I have always wanted to finish off the bottom of one of my art quilts with fringe but didn't really know the steps. In this wonderful free eBook/document by Robin Atkins you can learn how! In the beginning of this free download she tells you all the ways you can use beading but near the end (pg.53) she adds simple instructions for adding fringe! YAY! Click here or on the photo to go to the free download file.You can always find this under BINDING/FINISHING in the bottom section on my website.

I've never added beading to any of my work before but I always loved the look. While making a demo of one of my new patterns I decided it needed something! It is a butterfly and they are so beautiful! Why not try some beads. So I added a row of beads to just the body. I really love the look. Delicate yet effective. Gentle on the eye and just the right amount. Hmmm....I think I like beading!!! I am adding links to my BINDING/FINISHING page on beading now! Below is an example of a free eBook by Robin Atkins. CLICK on photo to access the 59 pages of photos and tutorials! (Give it a minute to load! ) Print it out or view online! AMAZING! Thank you Robin! This link can always be found on my website under EMBELLISHMENTS on the page called BINDING/FINISHING!

Many artists are choosing to display their art quilts on wrapped canvas lately so I decided to try some of the techniques out. I posted some tutorials on my BINDING/ FINISHING website page but wanted to show some of the ones I tried on my own pieces.

This example is on a digital photo collage I made. I stitched the completed piece onto white fabric then stitched the edge of that piece as well. I painted the canvas lilac then adhered the art quilt onto the canvas with soft gel medium. Looks like I stitched it to the canvas but I didn't. Stayed nicely. For more ideas and directions for canvas wrapping click on the above photo or go to the BINDING/ FINISHING page on my website.

This is one of my new patterns coming out this summer. I made this Sea Turtle art quilt with extra fabric on the sides. I wrapped the fabric around the sides of a canvas and staple gunned it to the back. Hardest thing was to center it. CLICK on photo to go to the BINDING/ FINISHING page on my website where there are many ideas for you to choose from!

For this confetti art quilt I was actually all done with it but thought it needed something more so I decided to add a wrapped canvas to the back. I painted the canvas black and when it dried I used soft gel medium to adhere my piece to it. You do not see the canvas from the front. See photo below. You only see it from the side. The effect is it raises the piece off of the wall but does not take anything away from the piece.

Front of confetti quilt with wrapped canvas on the back. Lifts it off the wall some. CLICK On photo for more ideas!

Learn tricks on how to use a double needle from Nancy Zieman in her blog post! She gives examples of using it for decorative stitches too! YAY! I am putting this link under More Machine Quilting Information & Tips on the Free Motion Quilting Page of this website so you can always find it. Thank you Nancy!

I just started a new group on Facebook called Sue Freebern Designs : Show and Tell. It will be a good old fashion Show & Tell where members share with other group members what they have learned and tried from my website suefreeberndesigns.com. From Free Motion Quilting tips, Binding/Finishing tips to making my soon to be released patterns. It will be fun to see how everyone's patterns come out! All posts must be related to something you learned or tried from the website. Posts should include where to find that information on the website so we can easily go there for more information...of course I will help with that! . Click here on the colored the link to go the new Facebook group Sue Freebern Designs: Show & Tell. Be one of the first to join and travel with us on this journey! So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, tea of bit of chocolate and enjoy!

Wendy Butler Berns recommended Decor Bond 809 in several of her classes on Craftsy (Art Quilting 101, Pictorial Techniques and Machine Quilting) that I took a while back. Since then I won't do anything without it. It has medium firmness and it is fusible. That is a plus! It makes sewing so much easier. Gives art quilts that nice body for extra crispness when hanging as well. I still add a Fusible Fleece or thin cotton batting as the middle layer. Together they seem to be the perfect fit! Click on colored links above for more info! Click on photo to go right to PELLON.Here is the manufacturers info. from Pellon. Pellon® 809 Décor-Bond® is a firm, nonwoven, fusible stabilizer that provides extra crispness and support. It is fantastic for use in placemats, director chairs, lamp shades, and drapery headers. For areas that require extra rigidity, use 2 layers.

Lately I have been using Fusible Fleece by Pellon instead of traditional batting for my work. It is my "third" layer although it is probably my fourth for I use a stabilizer as well! It is thin and soft yet has a nice firmness to it for the small art patterns I have been making. It is 100% polyester. When using decorative stitches and metallic thread it has been perfect. I am wondering what others feel about this? Here is the manufacturers info. Pellon® 987F Fusible Fleece is a one-sided fusible fleece that adds a layer of softness, body, and stability to home decorating, craft and apparel sewing. No Pinning! No Basting! No Sewing! Can be fused to fabric, cardboard, or wood. It is completely sewing machine safe. Black works especially well with dark fabrics.

As I was working on one of my new patterns, for the line I will present this summer, I decided to try some of the bindings and finishes that I have on my website page BINDING/FINISHING to show you how they look. On the piece below I used a strip of fabric that I added fusible web to and cut 3/4" wide. I semi-folded it to give it a slight crease (before removing paper back) and then added it to the edge and ironed. You can also measure in 1/4" with a ruler or draw a line 1/4" in with white pencil. I've tried both. This method shared by Laura Wasilowski and posted on my webpage called BINDING/FINISHING works and I really like it. I then decided to add a little texture and color so I tried Laura's suggestion of adding a decorative stitch. My machine doesn't have the exact blanket stitch she used but I liked this one just as well. You can find that link as well on my webpage BINDING/FINISHING here. Can't wait to try more tips! CLICK on any colored link or photo below to go directly to the page with all the tips!

I've been working on one of the patterns for my new line coming out this summer and I'm trying gold thread. I love the look and I found that I didn't have to worry about what brand to use. I just grabbed good old Coats & Clark and it worked perfectly. No snags or breaks!!! I'm very happy about that!! Do you have issues with metallic thread? What have you found that works?

On this piece I used a Schmetz #75 Embroidery needle and did not drop my feed dogs. I lightened the presser foot tension so I could just move the material freely under the needle while still having some tension. The thread has a nice body to it and does not have a twist on the end as you can see. I am happy with it!